Blogs

Audubon Park rules scene for one night in close encounters with Eric Bachmann and the Posies

One night last week (Oct. 5), Audubon Park was the most happening neighborhood in the city, the epicenter of indie Orlando. In what was the most historical, unique and crammed evening in memory, two major acts that would typically play in the top independent clubs here instead made under-the-radar appearances in informal venues. It was a marquee night with no marquees and, for some enterprising people, a once-in-a-lifetime double feature.

Michael Lothrop

Eric Bachmann living room show in Orlando

Michael Lothrop

Eric Bachmann living room show in Orlando

Before me and approximately 49 others, North Carolina indie-rock great Eric Bachmann performed a very personal living room show at the home of OW photographer and longtime Orlando music figure Michael Lothrop. The only degree of intimacy greater than that involves moonlight, serenading and a window. He even prefaced the performance by saying he welcomed requests – if he remembered it, he’d play it. And so the stage was set for a fan fantasy.

Michael Lothrop

Eric Bachmann living room show in Orlando

Michael Lothrop

Eric Bachmann living room show in Orlando

Bachmann further went on to say that he was endeavoring, over the next hour and a half, to play something off every one of his records – which, even excluding his instrumental material, span three significant and long-running projects: Archers of Loaf, Crooked Fingers and his solo work. Because his range has unfolded considerably over his lengthy career, this performance offered lots of alternate renditions of favorite songs, all acoustic, some on banjo even.

Michael Lothrop

Eric Bachmann living room show in Orlando

One of the biggest crowd-stoking highlights wasn’t even his but a cover of the beautiful Prince song “When You Were Mine” (which I actually think Cyndi Lauper perfected but am already bracing myself for the blowback on that one).

Michael Lothrop

Eric Bachmann living room show in Orlando

More campfire than concert, this experience was the ultimate in live music encounter, as intimate as your personal relationship with the music but rendered by the man himself. The looks on the faces around the room reflected it, and it was beautiful.

Michael Lothrop

Eric Bachmann living room show in Orlando

Michael Lothrop

Eric Bachmann living room show in Orlando

As soon as Bachmann wrapped, I and some lucky others simply walked three blocks up to indie culture bastion Park Ave CDs just in time for soundcheck to the secretive pop-up show by power-pop royalty the Posies.

Michael Lothrop

The Posies secret pop-up show at Park Ave CDs

Michael Lothrop

The Posies secret pop-up show at Park Ave CDs

A little more straightforward than the earlier show, this one was a full-band rock-out, even including a guest spot by local promoter-singer-opener Tierney Tough (The Pauses). But like the living room show, this in-store performance was a rare confluence of big names and extraordinary proximity.

Michael Lothrop

The Posies secret pop-up show at Park Ave CDs

Michael Lothrop

The Posies secret pop-up show at Park Ave CDs

Individually, the events were exceptional memories. Combined, they made one of the coolest and purest nights of music I’ve ever experienced. And it happened in key part because of the local movers on the ground. Looking good, Orlando.